Lintel and lintel shield combination



5 A. P. nosms ofl 2,846,998 LINTEL AND mum. same COMBINATION Fiied Feb. 14, 1955 mmiiiai /2 IN V EN TOR.

6 W515 flTTOE/VEYS United States Patent Ofice 2,845,998 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 LIN'IEL AND LIN'IEL SHIELD COMBINATION Albert P. Robinson, Seattle, Wash.

Application February 14, 1955, Serial No. 487,929

4 Claims. (Cl. 126-420) This invention relates to residential fireplace construction and has reference more particularly to improvements in fireplaces wherein the masonry that is directly above the from opening of the fire chamber is supported by a lintel formed by a single angle iron bar; it being the principal object of this invention to provide improved means for protecting this lintel from the direct fireplace heat as an insurance against damage to the masonry that may result from the warping or expanding of the lintel by reason-of its exposure to the fireplace heat.

In a co-pending application, filed under Serial No. 585,719 on May 18, 1956, which is a continuation-inpart of an application filed under Serial No. 276,752 on March 15, 1952, now abandoned, I have illustrated and described the protecting of a metal lintel by means of a metal shield. However, the fixing of the shield to the lintel was accomplished in such a way that the expansion and contraction of the shield by reason of its subjection to the direct fireplace heat, was transmitted to the lintel, and the advantages of the shield were to some extent nullified.

In view of the above mentioned and other objectionable features of the combination of parts and method of supporting the shield in place, as disclosed in the above identified co-pending application for patent, it has been an object of the present invention to provide a lintel and lintel shield combination, including novel means for the support of the shield that permits it to expand, contract, or warp without in any way transmitting the warping, contracting or expanding forces or pressures to the lintel or masonry of the fireplace.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the provision of a lintel of angle iron and a shield of a like piece of angle iron, together with means for the support of the shield from the lintel that are easily and readily applicable to the end portions of the lintel and shield and which provide for support of the shield in fixed spacing from the lintel, thus to define an intermediate passage for the inflow of cooling air between them, but permitting a freedom of movement relative thereto that eliminates the transmittal of any detrimental or masonry damaging strain to the lintel by reason of expansion, contraction, or warping of the shield.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of clip as a shield spacing and supporting means, that is rigid and durable, easy to apply and which provides for that relative movement of parts, when joined thereby, that eliminates the possible damage to the structure.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of constructionand combination of parts embodied by the lintel, shield and clips, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplising these above mentioned and other objects of the invention, 1 have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a fireplace equipped with a lintel and lintel shield combination embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing an upper corner portion of the front opening of the fireplace, with some of the masonry removed from the lintel for better illustration and understanding of the mode and place of use of the shield supporting clip.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, cross-section taken on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2 showing the relationship of shield and lintel as established by the clips.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two angle iron pieces as provided for assembly to form the lintel and lintel shield.

Fig. 5 is a face view of a metal blank as provided in the flat for the formation of a shield spacing and supporting clip therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shield supporting and spacing clip as formed from the blank, and ready for its application to the angle bars which form the lintel and its shield.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a shield of an alternative form as applied to the fireplace opening and lintel.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. l, I have shown, in front elevation, a typical fireplace construction in which the masonry, or brickwork that extends across the front opening of the combustion chamber, is supported in the usual way by an angle iron lintel, here designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10. It will be understood by reference to the showing of parts in Figs. 1 and 2, that the lintel is of such length that its opposite end portions may be embedded to substantial distance in the masonry or brickwork at opposite sides of the fireplace opening. As seen in Fig. 3, it will be understood that the lintel has one flange, 10h, disposed in a horizontal plane, and it is upon this that the masonry 12 across the fireplace opening is supported. The vertical flange 10v is exposed at the inside of the masonry wall as carried by the lintel. In the usual fireplace, such a lintel would be exposed directly to the fireplace heat and, by reason of this exposure, would be subjected to warping and expansion to such extent that the supported or supporting masonry might become cracked or otherwisedamaged and loosened. However, the present invention provides for use of a shield, so located as to effectively protect the lintel from the direct and damaging fireplace heat, and so attached to the lintel that warping, or expanding of the shield will have no damaging effect on the lintel or masonry.

The lintel shielding element. as provided for use with the present lintel 10, comprises a single length of angle iron herein designated in its entirety by reference nu meral 15. it is of the same cross sectional dimensions as the lintel and is of such length that it can be easily received between the opposite vertical side faces which define the width of the fireplace opening, with slight clearance at its ends. The shield 15 is supported in spaced relationship to the lintel to provide an intermediate air passage 16, as has been shown in Fig. 3. It is to be noted, also, in Fig. 3 that the shield is in a nesting relationship with the lintel with corresponding flanges in parallel planes, and that it comprises a horizontal flange 15h that is set inwardly and below the horizontal flange 1011 of the lintel, and vertical flange 15v that is spaced rearwardly of the vertical flange of the lintel.

The shield 15 is supported at its opposite ends by means of supporting and spacing clips of the novel kind best shown in Fig. 6. The blanks from which the clips are formed are preferably stamped from sheet metal of a suitable kind and gauge, and substantially in the shape and proportions shown in Fig. 5. The blanks are then 3 bent to the angular form shown in Fig. 6 to prepare them for assembly with the lintel and shield. Each blank comprises a continuous, strap-like longitudinal inner edge portion, designated in Fig. 5 by reference numeral 17. This portion, which is preferably about three inches wide, is bent at a right angle along a transverse line 17x that is intermediate or medial its ends, thus to provide the two wing portions 17a17a, and these parts are formed across their outer ends with outwardly and then inwardly turned minates substantially even with the outer end of the corresponding leg 17a, but may be substantially lesser width, usually about one-half inch wide. These outer edge portions 19x of the wings are joined to the corresponding portion 17a by an integral connecting web 21.

It is to be observed that the inner end edges of the web portions 21 extend from line 17x at a 45 angle relative thereto, and the webs extend about half the distance to the outer ends of the parts 17a and 19x joined thereby. The outer end portions of parts 19x are bent forwardly and inwardly to provide the hook-like portions 25. Then, to complete the clip for its intended use, each web is bent forwardly along its line of juncture with the leg 17a, and the wing portion 19.1: with which it is joined is then bent oppositely at a right angle thereto, thus to place the parts 19x, 21 and 17a in the offset relationship in which they have been illustrated in Fig. 6.

Assuming that the lintel, shield and clips are thus formed, they are assembled for use in the following manner:

After the fireplace masonry has been built up to the level of the top of the fireplace opening, the lintel with shield holding clips applied to its opposite end portions is placed in the masonry. Application of the clips is effected by slipping the end and outer edge portions of the lintel flanges beneath the hook-like portions 25-25 with the legs 19x-19x at the backside of the beam, and then sliding the clips inwardly along the end portions of the lintel. The opposite end portions of the lintel shield 15 are then similarly slipped within the hook-like portions 1818 of the parts 17a-17a with the wings located at the front side of the beam flanges. The clips are then so adjusted along the lintel that when the lintel is placed in position in the masonry, the inner edges of the parts 19x19x will come flush with the side faces of the fireplace opening, shown in Fig. 2. The length of the lintel shield should be such that it will not project at its ends beyond the outside edges of the hook portions 18. The substantial width of the parts 17a permits of a substantial variation in length of the lintel shield and thus the requirement for exactness of its length to fit the width of the fireplace opening is eliminated.

In the folding or bending of the blank to the form shown in Fig. 6, the blank recess 20 is completely closed and the possibility of smoke putting out at this point is eliminated.

The assembled lintel and its attached shield is placed in position across the top of the fireplace opening, as in Fig. l, and the masonry work continued. With the ends of the lintel beam embedded in the masonry in the usual way, it will be held secure, and the shield will also be held secure in its protecting relationship thereto, and

with clearance that provides the intermediate air pas- 75 sage 16, through which the outside cool air will be drawn 4- by the updraft in the flue to aid in keeping the lintel and its shield in a cooled condition.

With the shield so mounted, the lintel is protected from excessive heat, and the shield can expand, or contract, without any effect on the lintel 10 since its ends are slidably contained in the supporting clips.

This form of combination supporting and spacing clip makes it possible for the builder to prepare and assemble the lintel and shield on the job, to fit fireplace openings of various widths. The work of assembling can be done by unskilled labor and thus the expense of welders or skilled labor is eliminated. The beams may be pre-cut to standardized lengths, and by reason of the type of clip employed, the exactness in width of the fireplace opening to fit the length of the shield, is not required.

In the alternative form of shield, the horizontal flange 15b is extended in a downward and forward direction approximately to the front of the fireplace and is then formed in a downwardly rounded flange 15c. This gives a more attractive appearance to the forward edge of the shield and forms an entrance mouth to the air passage 16 between lintel and shield.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a lintel for a fireplace comprising an angle iron bar of a length designed to span the fireplace opening and to enable its opposite end portions to be embedded in the fireplace masonry for support of the lintel across the said opening and for the support, on its horizontal flange, of the masonry across the top of the fireplace opening, with the vertical flange of the lintel exposed at the inside of the masonry wall, and a metal shield for protecting the lintel against direct fireplace heat, said shield being of angle iron form, and extended across the fireplace opening and terminating within its lateral limits with its horizontal and vertical flanges spaced below and inwardly from the corresponding flanges of the lintel, and shield supporting means applied to opposite end portions of the lintel and shield, and slidably adjusted therealong to suit the width of the opening, and permitting relative movement of the shield as supported therein, under the expanding and contracting influence of changing fireplace temperatures.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein each of the shield suporting means comprises a clip including means for its attachment to and adjustment along the mounting end portion of the lintel, and means for its adjustable containing of an end portion of the shield, and a spacing element whereby the shield flanges are caused to be held in spaced relationship from the corresponding flanges of the lintel to provide an air space between them for an inflow of air from the front of the fireplace.

3. In a fireplace, a front wall having an opening thereing, a metallic lintel supporting the front wall portion across the top of the fireplace opening, said lintel having a horizontal portion extending from adjacent the outer side of the opening to the inner side thereof and an upwardly angulated portion extending from the inner side of the opening contiguous with the inner surface of said front wall portion and terminating at a position adjacent the throat of the fireplace, a heat protective shield for said lintel and means supporting it in spaced relation thereto; said shield extending laterally the entire width of the opening, and having one portion underlying said horizontal portion of the lintel and defining therewith an air intake at the outer side of and substantially the entire width of said opening, said shield also having a second portion, joined with said one portion and directed angularly upwardly with respect thereto to terminate adjacent to the termination of the upwardly angulated portion of said lintel to define therewith an air discharge into the throat of the fireplace, whereby the shield forms with the lintel a cool air passage to direct cool air over the entire area of the lintel; said shield supporting means comprising clips applied to the opposite end portions of lintel and shield, each clip comprising an angular portion fitted to and slidably adjustable on the mounting end portion of the lintel bar, another angular portion fitted to and slidably containing the end portion of the shield, and a spacing web joining said angular portions to hold the shield spaced from the lintel.

4. In combination, a lintel for support of the masonry across the top of the front opening of a fireplace; said lintel comprising an angle bar adapted to have opposite end portions thereof embedded in the masonry at opposite sides of said opening for its support, a metallic shield extended along the angle bar to protect it from exposure to direct fireplace heat, said shield terminating short of the supporting end portions of the angle bar but extending substantially to the full width of the fireplace opening and supporting means for the shield associated with the single bar whereby it is held in fixed spacing from the bar to provide an open passage between them through which cooling air, from outside the fireplace, can flow with cooling influence on angle bar and shield; said supporting means being adjustable along the mounting end portions of the lintel to suit the width of the fireplace opening and length of the shield.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 177,308 Wickersham May 9, 1876 650,050 Phenice May 22, 1900 1,105,651 Guy Aug. 4, 1914 1,682,526 Jubb et a1. Aug. 28, 1928 2,117,379 Turner May 17, 1938 2,703,567 Manchester et al. Mar. 8, 1955 

